The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

SECTION CLVI

“Bhishma continued, ’Having said these
words unto the Salmali. that foremost of all persons
conversant with Brahma, viz., Narada, represented
unto the god of the wind all that the Salmali had said
about him.’

“Narada said, ’There is a certain Salmali
on the breast of Himavat, adorned with branches and
leaves. His roots extend deep into the earth
and his branches spread wide around. That tree,
O god of the wind disregards thee. He spoke many
words fraught with abuse of thyself. It is not
proper, O Wind, that I should repeat them in thy hearing.
I know, O Wind, that thou art the foremost of all
created things. I know too that thou art a very
superior and very mighty being, and that in wrath thou
resemblest the Destroyer himself.’

“Bhishma continued, ’Hearing these words
of Narada, the god of wind, wending to that Salmali,
addressed him in rage and said as follows.’

“The Wind-god said, ’O Salmali, thou hast
spoken in derogation of me before Narada. Know
that I am the god of the wind. I shall certainly
show thee my power and might. I know thee well.
Thou art no stranger to me. The puissant Grandsire,
while engaged in creating the world, had for a time
rested under thee. It is in consequence of this
incident that I have hitherto shown thee grace.
O worst of trees, it is for this that thou standest
unharmed, and not in consequence of thy own might.
Thou regardest me lightly as if I were a vulgar thing.
I shall show myself unto thee in such a way that thou
mayst not again disregard me.’

“Bhishma continued, ’Thus addressed, the
Salmali laughed in derision and replied, saying, ’O
god of the wind, thou art angry with me. Do not
forbear showing the extent of thy might. Do thou
vomit all thy wrath upon me. By giving way to
thy wrath, what wilt thou do to me? Even if thy
might had, been thy own (instead of being derived),
I would not still have been afraid of thee. I
am superior to thee in might. I should not be
afraid of thee. They are really strong in understanding.
They, on the other hand, are not to be regarded strong
that are possessed of only physical strength.’
Thus addressed, the Wind-god said, ’Tomorrow
I shall test thy strength.’ After this,
night came. The Salmali, concluding mentally
what the extent is of the Wind’s might and beholding
his own self to be inferior to the god, began to say
to himself, ’All that I said to Narada is false.
I am certainly inferior in might to the Wind.
Verity, he is strong in his strength. The Wind,
as Narada said, is always mighty. Without doubt,
I am weaker than other trees. But in intelligence
no tree is my equal. Therefore, relying upon
my intelligence I shall look at this fear that arises
from the Wind. If the other trees in the forest
all rely upon the same kind of intelligence, then,
verily, no injury can result to them from the god
of the Wind when he becomes angry. All of them.
however, are destitute of understanding, and, therefore,
they do not know, as I know, why or how the Wind succeeds
in shaking and tearing them up.’”